Most common 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500 problems
Share of the 80 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercedes-Benz SL500 complaints by model year
Best SL500 years: 1995, 1998, 1996. Years to avoid: 2003. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500:
Air suspension system failure
The subject s-class vehicles contain a compressed air suspension system that uses air struts on each of the four wheels in lieu of traditional springs and shock absorbers.these air struts use compressed air to support the weight of the vehicle and control ride height.in the event of the loss of air from the system, an alert will flash on the instrument cluster warning the driver to either drive carefully or to stop…
What 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500 owners say
Suspension all 34 →
The contact owns a 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle, the following day he noticed that the front of the vehicle was lowered down. The contact stated that the car was too low a warning light was illuminated. The contact stated while starting the vehicle and taking his foot off the brake pedal, the vehicle would raise up independently and would be able to drive to his destination. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the front strap suspension to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 52,500.
The contact owns a 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the ABC warning light illuminated. Additionally, the message "Drive Carefully" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the ABC tandem pump, struts, and hoses needed to be replaced. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they did not provide service for older vehicles. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.
Fuel & propulsion system all 20 →
The 2003 SL500 with seemingly no instigating incident or event had the gas tank baffle come apart due to the poor and faulty design of this component. This baffle now is loose and floats on the gas in the gas tank, banging around when there is acceleration or deceleration, even turning sometimes causes it to bang around. Speed bumps are another source of loud banging from the baffle bumping into the sides of the tank. The issue with 2003 SL500's is ubiquitous, it is not a question of what percentage of them will experience as it appears it will happen to this vehicle at some point due to the poor design and implementation of the baffle. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500. While driving into the garage, the abc pump warning indicator illuminated and the contact noticed smoke inside the vehicle. In addition, the contact noticed a large amount of hydraulic fluid on the garage floor. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the front and rear axle valve lock, and pressure reservoir for the abc system needed to be repaired and flushed. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 07V263000 (suspension, engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 55,620.
Brakes
The contact owns a 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed however, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact depressed the brake pedal firmly however, the vehicle failed to respond. The parking brake was activated however, the vehicle failed to respond as designed. The contact was however able to pull over and eventually the vehicle came to a complete stop. The vehicle was towed. The dealer and the manufacturer were contacted and stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 05V133000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The failure mileage was 126,000. The consumer stated the part put on the vehicle for the recall was a defective part and not installed correctly.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Mercedes Benz SL500. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, she smelled smoke coming from the engine. The contact stated that the abc and stop vehicle too low warning lights illuminated. The contact mentioned that while driving, the front end of the vehicle started to scrape the ground. The contact was able to pull the vehicle over and noticed that it was leaking fluid. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. It was unknown if the vehicle was diagnosed but the vehicle has not been repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 07V263000 (engine and engine cooling, suspension). The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle also showed failure signs of NHTSA campaign: 05V133000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The failure mileage was 86,998.
2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.0L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 20 / 16 |
EPA ratings. Class: Sports car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500 a good car?
Based on 80 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2003 SL500 rates avoid: 3.9× as many complaints as a typical year of the SL500 at the same age. It is one of the SL500 years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500?
The suspension — 34 complaints, 43% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (20) and brakes (14).
How many recalls does the 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mercedes-Benz SL500?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1995, 1998 and 1996. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2003. See the full Mercedes-Benz SL500 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 63,000 miles; 25% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.